How to Teach Spelling: A Focused Remedial Approach

Posted by Erica Warren on Mar 23, 2021

The brain is an extremely complex infrastructure of neural highways and byways, and each student has their own unique pattern of established pathways as well as cognitive based strengths and weaknesses. As a result, defining the best remedial techniques for spelling requires a mindful approach that evaluates the cognitive based causes of the spelling difficulty and then tailors a specific remedial approach.

So How Can I Meet the Individual Needs of Each Student for Optimal Learning?

There is a four step process to meeting the needs of your struggling spellers.

Rule out any vision or hearing problems by asking the family to pursue the needed testing. This is something that the child’s pediatrician can do.
Understand the core cognitive based weaknesses or difficulties that can cause spelling struggles. These include:

Auditory processing
Visual processing
Memory
Optilexia
Sequential processing
Passive learning
Inattentive learning
Stress

Know how to use prior testing to uncover the core difficulties or conduct an assessment.
Tailor the best remedial approach based on the student’s unique profile.

Do You Have the Background and Training?

If you already have a background in school psychology and you are an active educational therapist or learning specialist, then you can probably work through this recommended sequence of steps. If however, you don’t have the training or knowledge, I would be happy to help you.

My New Course

I have just released a comprehensive course and assessment that will teach you all you need to know to meet the needs of struggling spellers. This includes about 50 minutes of multisensory video-based instruction that you can refer back to at any time, a comprehensive spelling assessment with remedial recommendations, and a companion journal that is packed with useful information such as a term dictionary, a comprehensive list of Orton-Gillingham based reading programs, and assistive technology ideas.

This is an evergreen course which means that it is updated as needed and you have lifetime access to the content. If you would like to learn more, click on the image below.

Cover to spelling course with happy student and letters

This blog is also available as a video. If this is your preferred way of learning, select the video below:

You can also purchase just the assessment with remedial recommendations at my online store. See the assessment here:

Spelling Assessment and Remedial Approach | Good Sensory Learn

Cheers, Dr. Erica Warren

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning. She is also the director of Learning to Learn, and Learning Specialist Courses.